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N6 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. M. NEWHALLKE J. H. TUCKER MACHINING RAWSUGAR.

N0. 333,023; Patented Deo. "2 2 1885.

N PETERS. Phob-Lilhngmphur. wadlingtall. D c.

2 shetssheet 2. TUCKER.

Patented -De 0."22, 1885.

'(No Model.)

MACHINING RAW SUGAR.

N. PETERS, PhotvLilhogl mphar, Washingkm. o, c.

' separate the impure sirup from the crystals of forming the subject ofthis invention consists UNITED TATES;

ATENT Fries.

GEORGE M. NEWHALL AND JOHN HENRY TUCKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.

MACHINING RAW SUGAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,023, dated December22, 1885.

Application filed July 27, 1885. Serial No. 172,726. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE M. NEWHALL and J OHN HENRY TUCKER, citizensof the United States, and residents of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,haveinvented certain Improvements in Machining Raw Sugar,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that branch of the process of refining sugarwhich is commonly termed the machining of raw sugar.

The ordinary process of machining raw sugar consists in mixing the rawsugar with sufficient cold or moderately warm water or sirup to form asemi-fluid mass or magma, and subsequently submitting this mass to theaction of centrifugal machines, whereby the fluid matter in Whole or inpart is separated from the crystals of cane-sugar, the object being toraw sugar, and thus at the outset to materially aid the refiningprocess.

The main feature of the improved process in mixing with the raw sugar inthe heater a hot dense sirup, which is prepared from part of the rawsugar being treated.

The advantages of this process are several. The sugar-mash resultingfrom the mixture of the hot liquor and commercially dry sugar isconsiderably heated, so that more can be passed through a given heater,or a smaller machine may be sufficient for a given quantity of sugartreated. WVe have found by experience in working this process thatfor'one hundred parts of dry raw sugar about thirty parts of the hotliquor at 36 Baum are required. Taking the temperature of the sugar atFahrenheit and the liquor at 200 Fahrenheit, we have for the resultingmagma 92 Fahrenheit, or, independently of the heater, an in crease of 32Fahrenheit. This increase in temperature obtained from the heat of theliquor greatly facilitates the process. Furthermore, it is oftendesirable to submit to the Washing process raw sugar varying greatly insize of grain, gumminess, or lumpy character. As arule, fine-grainedsugars cannot be washed in the centrifugal machine to any advantage inthe cold, while sugars such as Brazilian, Manilas, &c., are absolutelyunworkable, on account of their fine soft grain and gummy nature.

By this improved process of mixing the hot liquor with the raw sugarmany sugars otherwise unworkable may be dissolved to a heavy hot liquor,and this mixed with the coarsergrained raw sugar in the heater. Theliquor supplies enough water to make the magma semi-fluid, while ittakes up impurities from the dry sugar, and the whole purges freely inthe centrifugal machine.

This improved process may be carried out in any convenient constructionor arrangement of apparatus, but in the accompanying drawings isillustrated a construction of apparatus which is preferred.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section illustrating thedifferent parts of the apparatus on the several floors of a sugarhouse.Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles thereto.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the sugar to be treated, brought inhogsheads 5 5, for instance, is thrown into the hopper 6, whence thesugar is carried by the endless conveyer 7 up into the hopper or bin 8,which at the lower end is provided with an adjustable gate, 9, Fig. 1.This gate regulates the amount of sugar to be supplied to the apparatus,and this raw sugar is fed forward into the chute 11, leading to theheater 12, by means of a serew-conveyer, 10. The raw sugar in passingdown this chute is mixed with the hot dense liquor prepared for thepurpose, and introduced through the pipe 22 into the chute 11, where itthoroughly mingles and combines with .the raw sugar passing down intothe heater and mixer 12. This hot liquor is prepared by taking at thecommencement of the operation a quantity of the raw sugar and supplyingit to the melter 15 through a chute, 24, Fig. 2. The sugar be ingdissolved in the melter 15, is pumped up through a pipe, 17, and branch18 into the receiving tank or tanks 19,where sufficient of the liquor iscollected for the operation. From the tank or tanks 19 theliquor isdrawn off through a valved pipe into a vessel or vessels, 20, into whichsteam is injected through a suitable pipe, 21. By this means the liquoris heated,preferably,to about 210, and thence it passes through the pipe22 into the chute 11, and thence to the heater and mixer 12, as beforedescribed.v The mixture leaves the heater 12 at the opposite end andpasses into the mixer 13, which is provided at the lower side with anumber of sliding gates, '1, immediately over a corresponding number ofcentrifugal machines, R, in which the sugar is machined. From thecentrifugal machines the sugar is discharged, as indicated in Figs. 1and 2, onto the floor or bin below, whence it is passed through valvedconduits 11 to the melter 15, and so on for the subsequent refiningoperations.

The heater 12 and mixer 13 may be of any convenient construction.

Ve claim as our invention- '1. The process herein described offacilitating the refining of raw sugar, said process consisting inmixing with the raw sugar under treatment heated liquor or sirup,substantially as set forth.

2. The process herein described of facilitating the refining of rawsugar, said process consisting in preparing a hot dense sirup or liquorfrom a part of the sugar and mixing this in proper proportion with theraw sugar to be treated, as set forth.

3. The process herein described of facilitating the refining of rawsugar, said process consisting in preparing a hot dense sirup or liquorfrom a part of the sugar and mixing this with the raw sugar to betreated, and then heating the magma formed in a heater on its Way to thecentrifugal machines.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. NEWHALL. JOHN HENRY TUCKER.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM F. DAVIS, HARRY SMITH.

